The 5 Best Solar Watches We Recommend Checking Out

Everyday reliability, sustainability, accuracy, and affordability are the hallmarks of what truly make a watch desirable. No other timepiece embodies these ideals more than solar watches. They span all design genres which generally means that there is a timepiece out there to match what you’re looking for. However, over almost 10 years of reviewing watches the team and I have learned that not all watches are worth your time.

That’s why we’ve decided to collate the solar watches that represent the best of the best over all the watches that we’ve reviewed over the years – not only of design and comfort but also use of technology. We’re always reviewing new timepieces so be sure to keep an eye out for updates here. Also, if there is a watch that you’d like for us to review in consideration of including here, let us know in the comments below.

Citizen Eco-Drive Avion

Case Size:	45mm x 52mm x 12mm
Movement:	Citizen Eco-Drive J810 (Solar Quartz)
Solar Charging Time:	30 Hours
Full Charge Run Time:	8 Months
Crystal:	Mineral Crystal
Price:	$150 – $200

If you’re intrigued by pilot’s watches but not ready to empty your wallet, the Citizen Avion AW1361-10H is a great way to have fun without overspending. At 45mm wide and 52mm lug-to-lug, the case honors flieger traditions, yet its 12mm thickness ensures comfort on the wrist. Unlike older pilot-style watches that relied on mechanical movements, the Avion’s Eco-Drive quartz system ensures consistent accuracy with minimal maintenance. What our review team really appreciated about the Avion’s design is that it features a flieger-style crown, sharply angled lugs, and an overall design that strikes a nice balance between functionality and vintage charm while remaining easy to wear. One downside that we noticed during our review is that the brushed finish was visually appealing but not executed to a very high degree (especially when compared to some other options that cost only a bit more).

Despite the case finishing though, you’ll find the dial to be the true highlight here, boasting a “Type B” layout that combines yellow, orange, and white accents in a way that’s both visually striking and highly legible. Minutes are displayed on the outer ring, hours are positioned just below, and a 24-hour scale occupies the center. I appreciate the subtle chapter ring, which adds a modern touch to the classic design. Unfortunately, Citizen skipped lume on the dial entirely, which limits its utility for nighttime use. While the blue lume on the hands works well enough, it feels insufficient compared to other flieger-style watches. However, what continues to set the Citizen Avion apart from other fliegers is the fact that it’s solar powered. Speaking of which, during our testing of the watch we found the Eco-Drive solar quartz to be extremely reliable and absolutely staying within it’s +/-15 seconds per month accuracy rating.

One highlight our team was surprised by was the included brown leather strap. Its vintage design is a perfect match for the Avion’s dial design while also bringing a sense of modern styling with contrasting light stitching and the use of very thick leather. We appreciated that over time this type of leather strap will show its age and wear, developing character over time. The one downside here though is that at 4mm thick, the leather strap could be a bit difficult to bend and break in, but extended wear should resolve that over time.

The Citizen Avion is an affordable, fun choice for anyone who wants the modern benefit of a solar powered watch but in a more nostalgic, vintage design. Now if you like the idea of a solar powered pilot watch but one that’s more modern in design, you could explore the Citizen Nighthawk (at a slightly more expensive price of around $250), which features a GMT hand, slide-rule dial ring, and slightly nicer lume. Be sure to visit the official Citizen Watches site and to also price compare on Amazon. Plus, if you’d like more real-world insight you can read our full hands-on review.

Orient NEO 70s Solar Chronograph

Case Size:	42mm x 48 x 11mm
Movement:	Orient KBS00
Solar Charging Time:	5 Hours
Full Charge Run Time:	6 Months
Crystal:	Mineral Crystal
Price:	$150 – $200

The Orient Neo 70s collection as a whole is designed to pay tribute to trends and tropes that were popular among timepieces in the 1970s. Among this collection, the Solar Chronograph is easily the best executed design, seamlessly combining vintage charm with modern convenience. In fact, Kaz Mirza’s (our site’s Co-Founder) core watch collection features an Orient Neo 70s Chronograph that’s been nicknamed “The Orient Christmas Chrono” (due to it being a special Christmas release).

Measuring in at 42mm in diameter and 48mm lug-to-lug, the Neo 70s Solar Chronograph has a substantial but balanced feel on the wrist. Also supporting that balanced wrist presence are the curved lugs of the case which we found to conform appropriately to most wrist sizes. The lugs are also brushed and contrast nicely against the polished case sides, creating visual depth. This particular model that we reviewed has a turquoise dial with a gradient that darkens at the edges and captures your attention without being too overwhelming. But the gradient is broken up by staggered pinstripes, which add a playful touch. Across the whole Neo 70s Solar Chronograph collection you’ll find a variety of dial colors and textures that each feature their own unique personality.

Although the movement is referenced as the Orient KBS00, it’s most likely a white labeled version of the Seiko V175 Solar Quartz movement, which features a 6 month power reserve per solar charge and an accuracy rating of +/- 15 seconds per month. All in all we found it to be an excellent movement and while operating the pushers doesn’t offer a tactile click, the actual movement of the chronograph hand as it slowly resets is very pleasing to see.

Admittedly, the stock bracelet doesn’t impress, with its hollow end links and flimsy clasp. Swapping it for a NATO strap not only improves comfort but also enhances the watch’s dynamic aesthetic, highlighting its forward-facing design in a way the original bracelet cannot. But this isn’t surprising since bracelets are usually where watch brands try to save money in order to keep the watch affordable.

Priced between $150 and $200 on Amazon, the Orient Neo 70s can be a bit difficult to come by so we recommend keeping an eye when models become available. Now if you like the idea of a solar chronograph in a fun color but would prefer something a bit more sporty, we recommend exploring the Orient Mako Solar Chronograph collection, which features a more robust construction, 200m of water resistance, and a variety of dial colors. But if you’re at all curious about the Orient Neo 70s Solar Chronograph, please read our hands-on review for more information about the wearing experience.

Redwood Tactical V2 Stealth

Case Size:	40mm x 48mm x 11.2mm
Movement:	Epson VS17
Solar Charging Time:	12 Hours
Full Charge Run Time:	6 Months
Crystal:	Sapphire
Price:	$200

Affordable and rugged, the Redwood Tactical V2 Stealth stands out as one of the best solar quartz options for under $200 that our team has ever reviewed. With its 40mm case, 48mm lug-to-lug measurement, and slim 11.2mm profile, this watch offers practical wearing comfort on your wrist without sacrificing its military-inspired charm. In fact, one of the details we appreciated most during our review on the Tactical V2 is that it’s built to MIL-W-22176A specification, which is a specific set of criteria for submersible military watches. This really gives the solar watch a utilitarian edge that puts it in a class of its own amongst competitors. It even has features that exceed these military specifications like a sapphire crystal, 200m of water resistance, and a lumed bezel for enhanced legibility. The bezel by the way features 120 clicks and has a very sturdy, tactile click to it – it’s very fun to operate.

What truly elevates the Tactical V2 is its Epson VS17 solar quartz movement. Reliable, low-maintenance, and impressively accurate, it’s a standout feature that makes this watch an easy choice for daily wear. While the Redwood V2 Tactical version we reviewed features this solar movement, there are other versions of this watch that have mechanical movements instead. However, based on our experience with the timepiece, we recommend the solar version simply because it’s more reliable and it allows the case proportions to be slimmer (meaning more wearable).

One downside though in regard to the movement and setting time on the watch is that the crown can sometimes feel a bit undersized and can be hard to grip. But this isn’t a large enough issue to overshadow all the positive points. However, if you appreciate the function-first approach of the Tactical V2 but would rather have something less military-focused, then the Citizen Promaster Diver Eco-Drive (also featured in our list) would be an excellent alternative. You should absolutely also explore the official Redwood Watches site to explore the different dial options available in the Tactical line. You can also read our full hands-on review for more unique insights and photos.

Citizen Promaster Diver Eco-Drive

Case Size:	43mm x 49mm x 12mm
Movement:	Citizen Eco-Drive E168 (Solar Quartz)
Solar Charging Time:	11 Hours
Full Charge Run Time:	6 Months
Crystal:	Mineral Crystal
Price:	$200 – $300

The Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver is the watch we often recommend the most to anyone looking for an affordable, reliable, and versatile diver. It features a compact design that’s accentuated by it’s near-lugless design as thin 11.5 case thickness. In conjunction with the strong wrist presence from the 44mm case diameter, the overall impact of the watch is that of having a bold wrist presence with excellent potential to be your everyday grab-and-go-quartz watch.

The design of the 60-click bezel is another visual hallmark of the watch. However, our team found the bezel a bit difficult to grip in certain instances because of the bezel teeth don’t extend all the way around the bezel. The actual action and alignment of the bezel are smooth and precise though, which is actually very noteworthy for dive watches in this price range. Along with the bezel, the Eco-Drive Promaster Diver also features 200m of water resistance, an AR-coated mineral crystal, and strong lume which will allow you to actually dive with this watch should you choose to do so.

Powering the Promaster Diver is the Citizen Eco-Drive E168 solar-powered movement, which features a 6-month power reserve and an accuracy rating of +/- 15 seconds per month. While Citizen has started to favor more mechanical divers, our review team felt that a solar powered movement is really in the true spirit of reliability that dive watches should embody. Solar powered Eco-Drive movements don’t require battery replacements like traditional quartz movements and unlike mechanical movements, they don’t need to be serviced and aren’t prone to mechanical failures. Plus, the solar movement takes up much less room than a mechanical movement, which is what allows the watch to be relatively thin and more comfortable to wear than many other mechanical options.

In person we found the blue dial shifts to more of a deep purple under certain lighting conditions, which makes it appear much more dynamic than one would be led to believe from the brand photos online. Legibility of the dial is flawless, with generously sized hands and clear markers that make timekeeping a breeze, even underwater. It’s worth noting that the stock provided polyurethane strap is very well-made and comfortable, but the timepiece’s design also lends itself very well to a nylon strap (for our review you’ll note that we had it on a BluShark nylon strap).

Truly, what makes this watch exceptional is its versatility. During the course of our review, it was taken hiking, swimming, and even just in the office and it performed and looked perfectly natural in every situation. Now if you like the features of the Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver, but perhaps feel that 44mm may be a bit too large for your wrist, a comparable alternative would be the Seiko Prospex SNE585, which measures in a 37mm and features a more classic dive watch design. For the Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver you should compare prices between the official Citizen site and Amazon, generally you should be able to pick the watch up for around $250. Also be sure to read our review for more real-world insights and testing photos.

Seiko SBEP003 Digital Tuna

Case Size:	49.5mm x 49.9mm x 14.1mm
Movement:	Seiko S802
Solar Charging Time:	12 Hours
Full Charge Run Time:	5 Months
Crystal:	Mineral Crystal
Price:	$300

The Seiko SBEP003 “Digital Tuna” isn’t trying to win over traditionalists, and that’s exactly why it works. With a digital display and 49.5mm diameter, it’s really designed for those who would be looking for a Garmin or Suunto, but may want a digital timepiece from a more traditional watch manufacturer. Much of the SBEP003’s size comes from the unique shape of the case and the classic Seiko Tuna “shroud,” – however while we were testing this watch we found that the case design and shroud serve both functional and visual purposes. Essentially, the case is designed to be as ergonomic on your wrist as possible while the shroud serves to both protect the digital components of the watch and also visually slim down it’s diameter. That’s not to say the watch will feel “slim” by any means. It’s still 14.3mm tall and the size of the watch is apparent, but Seiko did everything they could to make the watch lightweight on the wrist and not too visually prominent.

Inside the Seiko Digital Tuna is the S802 solar movement, which can run for five months on a full charge or up to twenty months if you run the timepiece in power-save mode. Obviously, the solar charging and multifunctional digital display of the watch are the biggest selling points and the features our review team appreciated most were the stopwatch, dual timezone tracking, multi-part alarm, and world time. These are all balanced incredibly well without impacting the basic legibility of the watch. Contrasting these digital components is a traditional, friction bezel that can be used for quick timekeeping if need be. The downside however is that if you’re using the stopwatch mode on the watch, the bezel isn’t really usable because the minute counting hash marks disappear.

A classic Seiko 22mm silicon strap is included with the Digital Tuna. While the strap is incredibly comfortable and allows the watch to feel secure on the wrist, it does attract quite a lot of dust and lint just due to the nature of the material. Plus the sheer thickness of the strap and the watch together sometimes made it difficult to pull a sleeve over the wrist. However, regardless of these slight criticisms, if you had to grab one watch to be your tried and true, simply but effective digital sports timer, this would be in the running.

Now if you were looking for something with these digital functions that didn’t have any of the bezel usage and display issues, you could look at the Seiko SNJ027 (also known as the Seiko Arnie), which features a hybrid display with traditional analog hands and a digital display. For more information on the SBEP003 Digital Tuna, check out our hands-on review where we tested the watch during running, cycling, and swimming.